Keep ‘em or street ‘em?IAN MACFARLAINE

HEAD OF OPERATIONS, FELINE ADVISORY BUREAU WELFARE PROJECTS

• Feline Advisory Bureau – UK charity founded in 1958• Original aims – improve knowledge of care, husbandry, and

veterinary treatment of cats in the UK; led on care and veterinary treatment developments at a time when very little known and understood.

• Remaining true to this aim, with ISFM veterinary division, and international cat welfare projects – training and support emphasis.

• Projects emphasise sustainability through training, development, and capitalising on local expertise – not being visiting resource. Full diary for 2013.

www.fabcats.org

www.isfm.net

** LATER ON THIS SESSION YOU WILL NEED THE ENVELOPE WITH THE FOUR

COLOURED CARDS THAT WERE LEFT ON YOUR SEAT THIS MORNING **

1 day

10+yrs

Window of socialisation opportunity to create a rehomeable pet

Period of life during which attempts at taming will be stressful for cat, futile, and/or injurious to owner

Who’s in the box?

Kevin’s kitten!

CNVR…

Why do we ignore the basics?

- Human need to “save” and dominate

Why do we ignore the basics?

- Prejudices based on community the cats live in

Why do we ignore the basics?

- Prejudices based on community the cats live in

Why do we ignore the basics?

- Don’t understand cats as a species or their responses – or think they are small dogs

Dogs Vs Cats

Dogs

Cats

Why do we ignore the basics?

Anthropomorphism.

Why do we ignore the basics?

- Hoarding urges

Why do we ignore the basics?

- Easier to raise money through homing or sanctuary – sponsoring animals etc – than through TNR

Why do we ignore the basics?

- Exaggerated fear of bad things happening to them.

Why do we ignore the basics?

- Exaggerated fear of bad things happening to them – but worse damage may be caused by "rescue”.

Why do we ignore the basics?

- Exaggerated fear of bad things happening to them – but worse damage may be caused by "rescue”.

Why do we ignore the basics?

- Fear that doing the right thing for the animals might upset volunteers or staff with strong opinions….

So let’s take a vote…..

Hold up pink card Hold up blue card

Hold up green card

Hold up yellow card

The cat lives on a scrap metal tip. He had minimal handling as a kitten and cannot be touched or picked up. He will come close for food. He is in lots of fights all the time with other cats

The cat lives on a scrap metal tip. He had minimal handling as a kitten and cannot be touched or picked up. He will come close for food. He is in lots of fights all the time with other cats

The cat lives on a scrap metal tip. He had minimal handling as a kitten and cannot be touched or picked up. He will come close for food. He is in lots of fights all the time with other cats

The cat lives on a scrap metal tip. He had minimal handling as a kitten and cannot be touched or picked up. He will come close for food. He is in lots of fights all the time with other cats

Trap and euthanase

TNR

Trap and keep in sanctuary

Do nothing to avoid having to make the decision to put him back

9 week old unhandleable kitten living in a restaurant in a major city in East Africa. Restaurant owners don’t want more cats. The population of cats has grown by about 30% each year

9 week old unhandleable kitten living in a restaurant in a major city in East Africa. Restaurant owners don’t want more cats. The population of cats has grown by about 30% each year

TNR now

TNR at 6 months

Bring into shelter

Rehome directly to family

Pregnant unhandleable female street cat. Lives in public park with dense undergrowth and bushes. Fed by active feeder.

Pregnant unhandleable female street cat. Lives in public park with dense undergrowth and bushes. Fed by active feeder.

Trap, pregnant spay/abort, return

Trap, keep in shelter till kittens weaned, then spay and put back

Leave till kittens 6 weeks then TNR mum and trap and rehome kittens

Leave all till kittens are old enough to be neutered then TNR all in one go

Pregnant unhandleable female street cat. Lives in public park with dense undergrowth and bushes. Fed by active feeder.

Trap, pregnant spay/abort, return

Trap, keep in shelter till kittens weaned, then spay and put back

Leave till kittens 6 weeks then TNR mum and trap and rehome kittens

Leave all till kittens are old enough to be neutered then TNR all in one go

Pregnant unhandleable female street cat. Lives in public park with dense undergrowth and bushes. Fed by active feeder.

Trap, pregnant spay/abort, return

Trap, keep in shelter till kittens weaned, then spay and put back

Leave till kittens 6 weeks then TNR mum and trap and rehome kittens

Leave all till kittens are old enough to be neutered then TNR all in one go

Feral colony in derelict school. Cats all appear okay but there are lots of cat skeletons everywhere.

Feral colony in derelict school. Cats all appear okay but there are lots of cat skeletons everywhere.

TNR

Trap and bring to shelter

Trap and euthanase

Try to relocate to another area

Two little boys! Farm cats. About 8 months old, very friendly, appear to be identical twins. Bonded pair. But constantly sneezing with recurring flu.

Two little boys! Farm cats, About 8 months old, very friendly, appear to be identical twins. Bonded pair. But constantly sneezing with recurring flu.

TNR

Trap and bring into shelter

Trap and euthanase

Try to rehome directly – “home to home”

Street ‘Em Keep ‘Em

Freedom from long term chronic health/illness

Risk of death

Stress over long term

Infectious disease

Injury from fights and altercations

Suitable environment

Express normal behaviour

Hunger and thirst

Original problem continues?

Call to action:

If you work with the cats directly…

If your job is to manage the people who work with the cats

Coming soon…

RAOUL

“We had always been able to pick him up and touch him.

We brought him into the shelterand he went absolutely crazy, and lostso much weight.

We realised we only had one choice -To put him back….”

Thank you.